Starting in October 2026, the Postgraduate Center of the University of Vienna will launch the new postgraduate MSc programme International Disaster Management and Civil Protection. The curriculum was developed within the framework of the EU-funded EUMA Project (KAPP Call 2023), supported by the European Commission's DG ECHO. The programme aims to build and strengthen capacities in disaster risk management and civil protection through an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented learning approach.
The programme was approved by the Senate of the University of Vienna in its first reading on Nov 17, marking a significant milestone towards its official implementation. It comprises eight modules, including Foundations of Risk Prevention and Disaster Management, Multi-Hazard and Risk Assessment, International Disaster Management: Legal, Institutional and Geopolitical Dimensions, and Business Continuity Management and Resilience. The Master's is hosted at the University of Vienna's Postgraduate Center and led by Prof. Thomas Glade, Head of the ENGAGE Working Group and Coordinator of the EUMA Project.
Building on the success of EUMA, the initiative will continue in 2026-2027 with EUMAplus (KAPP Call 2025), which will focus on developing open-access educational materials for disaster risk management, ensuring long-term accessibility, collaboration, and impact of EU-supported learning resources in the field of prevention and preparedness.